South Africa to tour Ireland for ODI, T20I series in July
JOHANNESBURG: Southafricawillplaythreeone-day internationals and three Twenty20 internationals in Ireland in July, the first time the Proteas have played more than one game there.
The matches will be played between July 11 and July 25, with the one-day internationals forming part of the International cricket Council’s World Cup Super League.
CSA Director of cricket Graeme Smith said the tour was recognition of Ireland’s rapid progress as a “fast-developing” cricketing nation.
“Ireland have showed themselves to be highly competitive adversaries in recent years, with growing profile in the world game. It will also offer our players further international action in unfamiliar conditions, so we are looking forward to the contest,” he said.
The Proteas previously visited Ireland for a single game in June 2007 when they played an ODI in Belfast.
Meanwhile, CSA director of cricket Smith on Monday called for the International Cricket Council to show leadership to prevent the sport being dominated by India, England and Australia.
Smith told a virtual press conference that the relationship between cricket South Africa and cricket Australia “is definitely strained at this stage” following Australia’s late decision to withdraw from a three-test tour of South Africa because of concerns about Covid-19.
Smith was asked about CSA’S decision to write to the ICC describing Australia’s decision as “against the spirit of sportsmanship” and having implications for the credibility of the ICC World Test championship.
“More than anything, the ICC needs to have strong leadership going forward now,” said Smith. “I believe Covid is amplifying the haves and the have-nots relationships across the board and how the future landscape is going to be handled.”
Smith said cricket’s future calendar was dominated by India, England and Australia.
“It makes it extremely challenging for the rest of the member nations,” he said.
“The game needs leadership right now,” said Smith. “It needs to understand the complexities. I don’t think world cricket wants three nations competing against each other in ten years’ time.”
The former Test captain said that the dominance of the three major nations increased the likelihood of Twenty20 leagues geting “bigger and bigger”, leaving the lesser cricket nation with fewer atractive fixtures.
“I think it’s been fast-tracked because of Covid. These issues are becoming more and more relevant and amplified. I think the ICC found themselves a litle bit off guard,” he said.
Monday’s press conference was called to provide details of the rest of South Africa’s season, which will end with a recently-announced white-ball tour by Pakistan in April.
The Pakistan tour will provide another headache for CSA because it will probably clash with the lucrative Indian Premier League, expected to start in early April.
Several of South Africa’s star players, including Kagiso Rabada, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis and Anrich Nortje, are commited to IPL teams as well as being contracted by CSA.
Smith said ideally he would like to see all South Africa’s best players available for the Pakistan series but he admited, “It’s a litle more complicated than that.”